Indicating apparatus



Oct. 25, 1932. T. J. sMULsKl INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l illu.. LVJU.. uw i?? d Oc; l25, 193.2. T, J SMULSK. y 1,885,050

INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2o. 192e z'sheets-sheet 2 15 `the apparatus particularly Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES Pivrsla'r OFFICE THEODOBE J'. SMULSKI, 0F LAKE ZURICH, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T0` 'ISEE` ANDERSON CO.,

` F GARY, INDIANA,

A CORPORATION oF INDIANA INDICATING APPARATUS Application led December 20, 1926.v Serial No. 156,054..

My invention relates broadly to indicating apparatus and particularly to apparatus adapted to accurately indicate an existing condition when the same condition or other conditions tend to vrender the apparatus inaccurate.

A particular object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the kind described which will give a precise physical indication of an existing condition when that condition or any other conditions such as encroaching temperatures tend to affect the apparatus and render it inaccurate.

One form of the invention is embedded in adapted to indicate the temperature of the iiuid in the cooling system of an internal combustion engine, the apparatus being provided With means which will compensate for encroaching temperatures, atmospheric or otherwise.

Another form ofV the invention is embodied in apparatus which is particularly adapted to indicatethe temperature obtaining at any predetermined po1nt or place, the

apparatus preferablyv comprising one instrument adapted to be positioned at one place and an indicating instrument adapted to be positioned at another pace. Thusthe first instrument may be placed outdoors and the 3o indicating instrument may be placed doors, the construction being such that the instrument placed indoors will accurately indicate the temperature outdoors. The construction is such that neither instrument will be rendered inaccurate by variations in temperature indoors or outdoors.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given. y

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement and combi# nation of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claim. v Y

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts: so Fig. 1 is a central section taken through an inr uses mentioned therein.

indicating instrument of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the construction shown in-Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line v44 of Fig. 1; e

Fig. 5 is a section taken through a paratus embodying the invention and a apted to be used in connection with the instrument shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7-.7 of

embodying one form taken online 6-6 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line`8-8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is an elevation of apparatus embodying another form of the invention and adapted to be 'used in connection with the indicating instrument shown inl 1; y Fig. 1() is a section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectiontakenvon line 11-11of Fig. 10; and y Fig. 12 is a sectioncorresponding to the section shown in Fig. 6 but showing apparatus embodying another form of the invention.

In the drawings, Iy have illustrated two forms of the invention embodied in apparatus of the type shown and described in my copending applications, Serial Nos. 133,426 and 147,076 iiledSeptember 3, 1926, and November 8, .1926, respectively, but as herein-y after set forth, my invention 1s not limited to the particular construction shown in the copending applications, nor to the particular Referring for the present to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings wherein I have disclosed one embodiment of the invention, the reference character 10 designates an inter-v nal combustion engine of the type which is commonly employed in automobiles and the like, and which, for the purposes of this disclosure, is assumed to be a part of an au-v tomobile. The engine 10 is provided with va,

water jacket 11 through which a cooling fluid is circulated by any suitable means (not shown). Associated with the water jacket 11 is apparatus which embodies the inventlon and is adapted to indicate the temperature of the cooling vfluid so that the temperature thereof may be noted at any time by the operator ofthe engine or automobile. In this instance, the improved indicating apparatus preferably comprises a hollow fitting 14, screw threaded into the outer wall of the water jacket 1l and preferably closedvat its inner end by a disc 15. |The fitting 14 and disc 15 are preferably formed of metal so that electrical current may fiowfrom the disc through the fitting 14 and thence through the engine 10 and the chassis of the automobile (not shown) to the storage battery, or to any other source of electrical energy provided in the automobile. This is in accordance with the usual practice wherein the chassis of an .automobile `serves as al ground.' The fitting 14 may be of any suitable shape and a gasketL 17 may be inserted between itfandtlxe outer wall of the water jacket 11 to prevent leakage of the cooling' fluid from the water jacket.

Secured to the 'outer end of the fitting 14 by kscrews 18, or theequivalent, isa housing member 19 which encloses a plurality of thermostats 20, v21 and 22. The thermostat 20 is rigidly secured in the disc 15 so that the 4thermostat is subjected to the heat of the fiuid in the water jacket 11, the disc 15 being so positioned that it comes in direct contact with the fluid. v At its free end, the thermostat 20 carries a contact point 23 engageable with a contact point 24 secured to one end of the thermostat 21 which has its other end rigidly secured to a support or block 26 preferably formed from material which serves both as electrical and heat insulation. Two pinsl 28 projecting from the block 26 pivot the block in a bracket member 30 which is rigidly secured to the fitting 14. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the thermostat 22 also has one of its ends rigidly secured to the block 26, the free end of the thermostat 22-being urged against a set screw'33` by a compression spring 34 (see Fig. 8). The set' screw l33 1s preferably .mounted in a U-shaped bracket 35 which is rigidly secured to an arm 36 preferably formed integral with the bracket 30. A second set screw 37 is employed to align the compression spring 34 with respect to the freeA end of the thermostat 22. Obviously, the position of the free ends of the thermostats 21 and 22 can be angularly adjusted as a unit around thepivotal axis of the block by manipulating the screw 33.

Wound around the thermostat 21 and insulated therefrom throughout the greater portion of its length is a resistance wire 39 which has one ofits ends soldered to the thermostat as indicated at 40, the other end of the resistance wire 39 being connected to one end of an electrical conductor 41.

point 23 into engagement with the contactpoint 24. The thermostats 21 and 22 are,

preferably` substantially identical in construction or are so constructed that when they are subjected to equal temperatures, they will both bend or flex an equal amount and in thel same direction, the thermostat 21 being adapt# l ed to bend or flex` away from the free end of the thermostat 20 when it is subjected to heat.

It will be readily umleistoodthat whenv the two thermostats21 and 22 areequally subjectedV to a rise in temperature, the tendency of the free end of the thermostat y21 is to move away from the free end of the thermostat 20, but this tendency is corrected or negatived by the action of the thermostat 22 which flexes or bends substantially to the same eX-v tent as the thermostat 21 andcauses the block v 26 to be angularly displacedaround its pivotal axis in such manner that it tends to prevent displacement of the free end of the thermostat 21. The apparatus is constructed and adjusted so that the contact point 24 is spaced a predetermined distance away from the contact point 23 when the thermostats 20, 21 and 22 are all of a predetermined temperature. Keeping in mind the function of the thermostat 22, it is readily understood that when the thermostats are all subjected to a like higher temperature, the thermostat 22 such manner that the contact point 23 will be urged against the contact point 24 to displace it against the action of the thermostats 21 and 22. As set forth above, the thermostat 20 is so constructed that when it is subjected to a rise in temperature, it flexes or bends toward the thermostat 21 and therefore, when it is sufiiciently heated by the cooling fluid in the water jacket 11, it will urge its Contact point 23 against the contact 24. Assuming that the contact point 23 engages the contact point 24 yand that the thermostat 21 is subjected tothe heat caused by the fiow of an electrical current through the resistance wire 39, it is readily apparent that the thermostat 21 will fiex or bend to disengage the contact 24 from the contact 23, andsuch movement of the thermostat 21 will not be compensated by the thermostat 22 as it will notbe subjected to the heat of the resistance wire 39. The purpose of this construction will appear hereinafter.

i prevents displacement of the contact point 24 'i whicha needle or y pointer ,y f by the operatoroffthe automobile, the'pointer l shaped bracket :59 which erablyfrigidly secured to a U7 57 being pref preferably pivk oted by pins60: and 6111to fa dial plate 63 and a vbracket 'member 1 terminal grounded.-

f f.' y,Engaging onesidefof the-U-shapedy i f I other end'secured to a block 6'8 vpreferably bracket 59 is 'oneend .of azthermostat 66 which has its formed of` material which' serves as heat an electrical;l ifnsulation.` 4Also secure( y y df of! afthermostat' 69 vwhich `has its'. oth end held'f inA engagement with a set screw-'"'TO/by a!compressionspring.71.' The set's'crewTO :is mountedin a. U-shapedl bracket 7 3 'f whichf is"frigidly,secured-tothey housing memberk -`511. A-gsecond set,` vscrew 74 screw threaded iiiffo'.l .thel U-shaped fb' 7 3 aligns the'.A sprin'g'gl'ly 1 withiesp free end of the?` 1'the'rmestati` around the thermostat j 66.',andg nsulat which has one of its ends connected by'ajeon-.g ductor .78 to one terminal'ofa storage ybat-y tery 79, or the equivalent, lwhic'hhasiits]other j;

Of the' f yth'ebwttery 9,

K'The otherjendf winding or resistance wir-e7 5 isgconnectedyto' A the aforementioned conductor' 41 sol y that;v when the Contact point 23 engages the conrv.

tact point 24, any electrical curro," tfjwill 'flowr as follows: From l conductor 78, the winding or yresistance wire.vv 75, the conductor 41, the `resistance wire'39, the thermostat L10, the ,Contact p'oint l,24, vthe contact point 23, f the( thermostat'`.20,' "and thence through. thejengigine511 bac y ground to the batteryp79y-y. y f 2 Pins 8() and 81 projecting from the. block 68 pivotally mount theblock'withinlthe hous-` ing member 51Vthe`arrangement being lar to the arrangement of th'eJblock/26 inF'ig.

5. The thermcstats 66 and 69`are preferably so designed'that when they are both" subf` degree ofheatf, they bothbeiid substantiallv equal amounts in ay like predetermined directon'. In 'this instance, when the thermostats are subjectedjto heat, they flex in such manner that the thermostat 66 tends to angularly dis-1` place the pointer 57 in; a clockwise ldirection (Fig. 2) but the thermostat 69 compensates for this action of the thermostat "66 as it acts against the'sct screw 70 and angularly distion with respect l to the i which both instrusuch manner ,fcorrect `temperature to ""ginents aresubjected at the same time, and soithat thevcontact points 23 and 24 are spaced ance at a predeunderstood setinto operation a'cketg: fapartl a predetermined dist .y -termined'temperature, it

n l t the'engine 10 is therefrom is a windingori-resistance'wire (aV fand the, temperature of the cooling fluid creases, `in suchfmanner that the contac engagethe contact point 24 an Felectrical current to through'the the con 39, ythe thermos 24' and 23, the thermostat 20 and to ground d that l'when .sistance Wllfe the battery79,through uthe "displ acted in a' places the block 68 to prevent of the free end of the thermosta e manipulated s a unit ously, the set screw a dial plate 84 disposed member 51. I prefer to p which holds against the free `end of the ther From the foregoing des mostats 66 and 69, it is cooperate in substantially the s as the thermostats 21 and 22 descri displ end of the thermostat 66 when the thermostat and that there 1s no 69 is subjected to the However, if the resistance wire 75 thermostat 66 toa higher temperature thermostat 69, the free thermostat 66 will be displaced thatV of the tion (Fig. 2).

set screw ,the vthermostat 2 resistance wire tactv points thence through the engine back to the battery 79.

piytai axis of as `the Contact' Vthe contact point 23, the battery 79 is opened and and 6.6 begin to coolto t the surrounding 'atmosphere an 57 tends to in ove backin direction (Fig. ,2). Ho ment" of the pointer 57 movement of the contactl p v`gageinent with the contact point 23 that thepoin tactvpoint`23. and the pointer clockwise directi fthe'y pins 60 vand point 24 is dise displacement t 66. Obviwithin the housing rovide a hair spring the Urshaped brac mostat 66.

of thethercription ket 59 apparent that Ythey me manner bed above,

acement of the free same temperature.

heats the than end of the` to in turn above apparatus is will be 0 wil l flex or t point 23 will d permitan Assuming that the bend From

When the thermostats 21 and 66 are thus subjected to heat from 39 and 75 respectively,

manner that the' d from the con-` 57k is angularly on around the 61. y As soon ngaged from Y circuit through the the thermostats 21 he temperature of d: the pointer a counter clockwise wever,

such moveisl accompanied by oint 24 into enand the @inuit ig againclosed through the battery 79.

of course,.ii'idicate that t operation, butthe appa ratus may gaf structed in such manner that the movement will not be perceptible. This sequence of operations is continued indefinitely and the position which the pointer 57 assumes 1s a position indicating the temperature ot the cooling fluid upon the scale 83, it being readlly understood that the amount of heat to which the thermostats 21 and 66 are subjected depends upon the position into which the contact point 23 is brought through the responsive action of the thermostat 20 tothe temperature of the cooling fluid. Thus, if the thermostat 20 is flexed a relatively large amount by the heat from the resistance wires 39 and 75 respectively,the pointer 57 will be angularly displaced a proportioned distance, but if the thermostat 20 is not flexed to any great degree, the thermostats 2l and 66 will be subjected to a relatively small amount of heat by the resistance wires 39 and 75 and the pointer 57 will only be angularly displacedthrough a relatively small distance.

The above cycle of operations is substantially identical with that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 133,426 filed September 3, 1926, but in this instance, the apparatus is not rendered inaccurate by a variation or change in atmospheric or any other encroaching temperature for if the thermostats 21 and 22 'or the thermostats 66 and 69 are subjected to changes or variations in atmospheric temperature or any other encroaching temperature, the thermostats 22 and 69 will angularly displace the blocks 26 and 58,respect1vely, to compensate for such changes or variations in temperature.

In most instances,I prefer to provide a switch 88, or the equivalent, in-the conductor 41 so that the apparatus may be rendered.'

functionally inoperative when the automobile is not in use. This prevents Vwaste of the electrical energy of the battery 79.

A s in the copending applications 'mentioned above, apparatus embodying the invention is advantageous as the accuracy of the-apparatus is not'dep'endent upon the maintenance of aconstant voltage in the electrical circuit. When the voltage varies, the contact points 23 and 24 engage and disengage from each other in such manner that they compensate for the change in voltage. the fact that the engagement of the contacts is 'controlled by the heat imparted to the thermostat 21 by the winding 39 and that it is controlled by the position of the contact 23.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 10 and 11 wherein I have Shown an instrument embodying another form of the invention, the reference character 100 designates the instrument generally, which preferably comprises a plate 101 formed of electrical insulation and adapted to be secured to a wall 103 or any other suit- .able support. Mounted upon the plate 101 is a U-shaped bracket 105 to which one end 5 of an arcuate thermostat 106 is rigidlyv se- This is, of course, due toV cured. Secured to the free end of the thermostat 106 is a bar 107 having a contact point 108 in the form of a set screw screw-threaded into its free end. The contact point 108 is engageable with a contact point 109 mounted on -70 the free end of a thermostat 110 which has its. other end rigidly secured to a block 112 formed of material which serves both as electrical and heat insulation, the block 112 being pivoted by pins 113 in the bracket 105. Also secured to the block 112 is a thermostat 114, the -free end of which is urged against a set screw 115 by acompression spring 116 cen-- tered by a set screw 117 mounted in a U- shaped bracket 118, the set screw 115 being also mounted in the bracket 118. The bracket I.118 ,is secured to the plate 101 and the construction resembles that described in the other form of the invention in that the thermostats 114 and 110 are so constructed that the thermostat 114 compensates for deflection of the thermostat 110 by reason of a change in temperature to which both thermostats are subjected equally. Thus, when there is a rise in atmospheric temperature, the thermostat 110 iiexes or bends '1n such manner that it tends to move thecontact 109 away from the contact 108, but the thermostat 114 acting in the same direction as the thermostat angularly displaces the block 112 in such manner that the contact 109 lisnotv displaced by the deflection of the thermostat 110.

Wound around the thermostat 110 and insulated therefrom is a resistance wire 116 which has one of its terminals connected to a binding post 117 and has its otherterminal connected to Ia'binding post 118, the bindin posts being mounted upon the plate '101. will be noted that the thermostat 106 is spaced suiciently far away from the wire 116 to prevent it from being heated thereby. Connected to the binding posts 117 and 118 are electrical conductors 120 and 121, respectively, which may be connected to the resistance wire 110 v75 of the indicating instrument shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The connections are. preferably ,made as follows: The conductor 120 is connected to the conductor 41 and the conductor 121 is connected to that terminal 115 of the battery 79 which is grounded in Fig. 1. The instrument 100 may then be placed outdoors and the instrument 50 together with the battery 79 may be placed indoors. j However,

I preferably subject both instruments to a 120 relatively low temperature at first-and adjust the set screws 115 and 70 so that there is av slight clearance between the contacts 108 and 109 and so that the pointer 57 indicates the correct atmospheric temperature upon the -125 scale 83 which, of course, has been previously calibrated. When the instrument 100 is then subjected to a dilierent temperature which-is assumed to be higher than the tem erature at which the instruments were cali rated, the 131 Wires 116 and 75 causes the'thermostats 110,

bend in such manner disengaged `,from

and 66, respectively, to that the contact- 109 is the contact 108 and the pointer 57 is displaced in aclockwise directionk (Fig. 2). Of course, the circuit` through the battery 7 9 vis opened when thecontact 109 is disengaged vvfrom the contact 108 and the thermostatsat l tempt to lstraightemwhereupon the contar-.tv

109 kagain engages the contact 108 and closes the circuit.y This sequence of operations .is repeated until the switchf88 is opened but the construction isv such that the pointer 57 will indicate upon the scale 83, the temperatures to which the instrument 100 is subjected even though the instrument"50;isy subjected to a diiere'nttemperature -as the thermostat 69 `compensates for the diierent temperature to which the instrument 50;,is` subjected. Of course, the thermostat 114=prevents the thermostat 110 from bringing t "evv contact 109 out of its correct positionV with respect to the aontact 108. i 7

As in the invention disclosed in the aforementioned copendingapplication, Serial No. 133,426 filed September 3, 1926, it is con-V movement of -a primary electrical contact or its equivalent to'control theintensity of van electrical, electro-magnetic, thermal, or other 40 impulse, in a primar4 instrument, which in turn will ,controll wit corresponding inten-r sity asecondary instrument located at a distance, which secondary instrument maybe utilized either to indicate the degree ofmovement of said primary contact 0r vits equivalent, or may be used to tioning of other instruments or apparatus, -it being understood that the position of the primary electrical contact or its equivalent,

5o will be varied according to the variations of some ondary instrument, or will be controlled arbitrarily to influence such other instrument or apparatus desired to be controlled by the 56 secondary instrument. v v

y While, in this a plication, I have preferred to disclose te present inventionfin connection with apparatus` adapted to indicate variations 1n temperad0 ture, it will be readily understoodthat the invention may be embodied ina aratus adapted to give indications ofliq'ui levels,

' rates of speedsweights, positions of members and wind velocities, or any other change in conditions `which may be made to change templated inthls invention to utilize they control the funcj factorto be indicatedvin the sec-r v-portion'of the resistance wire particularly the position vof the contact equivalent.` AI do not wish to limit myself "to the particular uses enumerated as the invention has a wide a plication. If the aforementioned application, Serial No. 133,426 filed Sept. 3, 1926 `is examined, it will be noted that rates of speed may be indicated .by apparatus embodying the invention set Obviou'sl my forth in thatr application. present invention can be embodied in t e apparatusl shown in the former application to compensate `it for variations 1n atmosphencyor other encroaching temperature. In a like manner, the apparatus shownl in my cepending application, Serial No. 147,076, tiled Nov.l 8, 1926, ma also have the presentl invention embodied therein 'to vcorrect it forvariations in encroaching temperatures. It is obvious that if the n osition ofthe 4contact point-108 maybe in uenced` with relation toliquidlevel, as maybe done by utilizing the com'A mon form of float and lever, or by speed,1as

may be accomplished by using the common formy ofy spring governor, or by temperature, as may be accomplished by utilizing a simple thermostatic blade, the functioning of the apparatus embodying the invention will point 108',` or itsthe same in each instance and calibration of i the scale 83 may be varied to suit.

There are many other uses forl the invention, in fact, it may be used to indicate accurately any changing condition which can be caused to vary the position of the contact point 108 or its equivalent.

The term indicating is used in an extremely broad sense in this application as by the word indicating I intend to include the ap aratus which does not give a visible si nal ut rather controls other mechanism w ich in turn controls the conditions which are being interpreted. v

In Fig. 12, -I havev shown aA modification y of the apparatps shown 1n Fig. 6, the several parts being identified by the same reference numerals as they are in Fig. 6 with the letter a added thereto. As is readily understood, the thermostat 22a functions in the same manner as the thermostat 22 to control the position of the free end of the thermostat 21a, but it will be noted thatthe thermostat 22av is provided with a covering 22?) which has substantially the same heat insulatin characteristics as the material provide for electrically insulating the greater 39a @rom the thermostat 21a. This construction insures equally aiected by variations in temperaturesto Awhich both are subjected.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various .immaterial modifications may 'be made in -thesame without departing from the spirit of my invention;

ence I do notwish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction,

thatthe Athermostats 21av and 22a will be ing a plug casin arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: l

A unitary electric control device comprisadapted to be removably mounted upon t e wall of a container of thermally variable liquid with a ortion projecting therethrough and into t ermal-contact with the therein contained liquid, a thermostatic element supported internally of the casing upon the said projecting portion thereof, a second thermostatic element supported internally of the casing, an electric eater for the second element, a pair of controlling contacts disposed in the p u adapted to be operated by movement of the rst mentioned thermostatic element upon thermal response thereof to liquid temperature, and to be mutually disabled by movement of the second thermostatic element u on thermal response thereof to heat from t e winding, an e ectric circuit comprising the pair of contacts and said heating winding in serial relation, and adapted to be included in serial circuit with a source of current and an electrical indicator device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

THEODORE J. SMULS'KI. 

